1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Trifles. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
We're in a kitchen of a house located somewhere in the Midwest in winter. It was placed during a time where most women were expected to take on a role a that was submissive and often times overlooked. It's the day after Mr. Hale discovered that Mr. Wright is dead and Mrs. Wright is in jail. There is the county attorney, the sheriff, Mr. Hale, and two women (Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale). They are in the home of the Wrights discussing what could have been the cause of Mr. Wrights death.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
I think that the stasis for this play is when Mrs Peters and Mrs Hale find the bird cage. That moment gave you further insight of the dynamics of the Wright's household. It opened up more questions. Questions like: "where is the bird, was Minnie Foster just like the bird, or was Mr Wright potentially abusive".
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
On this day, the day after Mr. Wright was discovered dead, their if finally life in the home. The home seems to be lonely, cold (both realistically and metaphorically). The once absent home is now filled with people. But there is regret and judgement laced in the kitchen. A rocking chair that could have possibly held the murderer is still there and along with it many unanswered questions.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Who killed Mr. Wright and why?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ms Hale is a strong headed woman. She is also guilt driven and biased. It is often mentioned how she regrets not visiting Minnie Foster. Because of this guilt, she is really argumentative when evidence arises that could support a guilty verdict for Mrs. Wright. Because of the guilt Mrs. Hale has, she absentmindedly changes things (the quilt stitching and how the bird died). She ignores any intuition she has that puts Minnie Foster in a bad light, she goes against the men, and she changes a crime scene.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
Some theatrical moments are as follows: when Mrs. Hale almost sits in the rocking chair, finding the bird cage, finding the quilt with the messed up stitching and the dead bird in the silk. The rocking chair once held the murderer and Mrs. Wright. The bird cage then requires flashback of the one free-spirited Minnie Foster and how she is now like a caged bird. Once Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters find the dead bird, whose neck is snapped in silk and the quilt stitch that goes array. It shows how the possibility of Mrs Wright going crazy arises. It shows how Mrs Hale's guilt takes over and she starts doing things to help prove Mrs Wrights innocence.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. The image of a rocking chair. It plays a significant role in the play. It was were Mrs. Wright was when Mr. Hale came over the morning before. It is also believed to have held a the murderer of Mr. Wright.
2.The empty cage. when we first are introduced to the cage, we are given an insight to Minnie Foster. We then are able to make a symbolic connection between the bird and Mrs. Wright.
3. The bird and the stitching. The birds neck is snapped, the stitching is crazy. All evidence that could help point to Minnie Foster's conviction.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
Some themes in Trifles could be family or the theme of male supremacy.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles?
It shows how a broken family can be the death of people's lives. The absence of the kids helped contribute to the coldness and loneliness felt in the Wright's home. Things that the other characters pointed out quite frequently, which leads the audience to believe that that is an important fact. The absence of warmth (like a lit stove) can make for an comfortable environment. One that eventually will drive you crazy and you make decisions that will end your life.
We're in a kitchen of a house located somewhere in the Midwest in winter. It was placed during a time where most women were expected to take on a role a that was submissive and often times overlooked. It's the day after Mr. Hale discovered that Mr. Wright is dead and Mrs. Wright is in jail. There is the county attorney, the sheriff, Mr. Hale, and two women (Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale). They are in the home of the Wrights discussing what could have been the cause of Mr. Wrights death.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
I think that the stasis for this play is when Mrs Peters and Mrs Hale find the bird cage. That moment gave you further insight of the dynamics of the Wright's household. It opened up more questions. Questions like: "where is the bird, was Minnie Foster just like the bird, or was Mr Wright potentially abusive".
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
On this day, the day after Mr. Wright was discovered dead, their if finally life in the home. The home seems to be lonely, cold (both realistically and metaphorically). The once absent home is now filled with people. But there is regret and judgement laced in the kitchen. A rocking chair that could have possibly held the murderer is still there and along with it many unanswered questions.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Who killed Mr. Wright and why?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles.
Ms Hale is a strong headed woman. She is also guilt driven and biased. It is often mentioned how she regrets not visiting Minnie Foster. Because of this guilt, she is really argumentative when evidence arises that could support a guilty verdict for Mrs. Wright. Because of the guilt Mrs. Hale has, she absentmindedly changes things (the quilt stitching and how the bird died). She ignores any intuition she has that puts Minnie Foster in a bad light, she goes against the men, and she changes a crime scene.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
Some theatrical moments are as follows: when Mrs. Hale almost sits in the rocking chair, finding the bird cage, finding the quilt with the messed up stitching and the dead bird in the silk. The rocking chair once held the murderer and Mrs. Wright. The bird cage then requires flashback of the one free-spirited Minnie Foster and how she is now like a caged bird. Once Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters find the dead bird, whose neck is snapped in silk and the quilt stitch that goes array. It shows how the possibility of Mrs Wright going crazy arises. It shows how Mrs Hale's guilt takes over and she starts doing things to help prove Mrs Wrights innocence.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
1. The image of a rocking chair. It plays a significant role in the play. It was were Mrs. Wright was when Mr. Hale came over the morning before. It is also believed to have held a the murderer of Mr. Wright.
2.The empty cage. when we first are introduced to the cage, we are given an insight to Minnie Foster. We then are able to make a symbolic connection between the bird and Mrs. Wright.
3. The bird and the stitching. The birds neck is snapped, the stitching is crazy. All evidence that could help point to Minnie Foster's conviction.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
Some themes in Trifles could be family or the theme of male supremacy.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles?
It shows how a broken family can be the death of people's lives. The absence of the kids helped contribute to the coldness and loneliness felt in the Wright's home. Things that the other characters pointed out quite frequently, which leads the audience to believe that that is an important fact. The absence of warmth (like a lit stove) can make for an comfortable environment. One that eventually will drive you crazy and you make decisions that will end your life.